What is ICD-10 code F10.20?

F10.20 is the ICD-10-CM code for Alcohol Use Disorder, Uncomplicated, used when DSM-5-TR criteria for AUD are met without active intoxication, withdrawal, or specific alcohol-induced complications. It is the most commonly used baseline AUD code.

What are the diagnostic criteria for F10.20?

DSM-5-TR Alcohol Use Disorder requires a problematic pattern of alcohol use leading to clinically significant impairment, with at least 2 of 11 criteria within a 12-month period: drinking more than intended, unsuccessful attempts to cut down, time spent obtaining/using/recovering, craving, role failure, social/interpersonal problems, giving up activities, hazardous use, continued use despite physical/psychological problems, tolerance, withdrawal. Severity: 2–3 mild, 4–5 moderate, 6+ severe.

What scale is used to screen for F10.20?

The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) is the World Health Organization-recommended 10-item screener with 92% sensitivity and 94% specificity for hazardous drinking at a cutoff of 8 (World Health Organization, 2001). Scores 8–15 indicate hazardous use, 16–19 harmful use, and 20+ likely alcohol dependence requiring full clinical evaluation.

What's the difference between F10.20 and the older alcoholism codes?

DSM-5-TR collapsed the previous separate codes for 'alcohol abuse' (F10.1) and 'alcohol dependence' (F10.2x) into a single Alcohol Use Disorder code with severity specifiers. F10.20 is uncomplicated AUD; F10.21 is in remission; F10.22 with intoxication; F10.23 with withdrawal; F10.24 with mood disorder; etc.

Is F10.20 the same as 'etoh use disorder'?

Yes. ETOH (ethanol/ethyl alcohol) is the abbreviation commonly used in clinical and emergency department documentation to refer to alcohol. ETOH Use Disorder, alcohol dependence, alcoholism, and AUD all map to the F10.x ICD-10-CM family, with F10.20 being the standard uncomplicated baseline code.

Is F10.20 a billable ICD-10-CM code?

Yes, F10.20 is a billable code in the FY2027 ICD-10-CM code set (effective October 1, 2026). It is the most commonly reimbursed baseline code for moderate-to-severe Alcohol Use Disorder without active intoxication or withdrawal. Other F10.2x extensions (F10.21 in remission, F10.220 with intoxication, F10.230 with withdrawal) are also billable when those specifiers apply.

What are the symptoms of alcohol use disorder?

Alcohol Use Disorder produces a cluster of behavioural, cognitive, and physical symptoms. Core signs include drinking more or longer than intended, repeated unsuccessful attempts to cut down, strong cravings, and continued drinking despite social, work, or health problems. Physical signs include tolerance (needing more alcohol for the same effect) and withdrawal symptoms such as tremor, sweating, anxiety, or insomnia when alcohol is stopped.

How is alcohol use disorder diagnosed?

Alcohol Use Disorder is diagnosed by a clinician using DSM-5-TR criteria, which require at least 2 of 11 problem-pattern criteria within a 12-month period. Diagnosis typically follows a positive AUDIT screen (cutoff 8 or higher), a structured clinical interview, and review of medical and substance-use history. Severity is graded mild (2-3 criteria), moderate (4-5), or severe (6+) based on symptom count.

What causes alcohol use disorder?

Alcohol Use Disorder develops through a combination of genetic, neurobiological, and environmental factors. Family-history studies estimate heritability at 50% to 60%. Environmental contributors include early-onset drinking, trauma exposure, chronic stress, and co-occurring mental health conditions. Repeated heavy drinking causes neuroadaptive changes in dopamine, GABA, and glutamate systems that drive tolerance and craving.

Can alcohol use disorder be cured?

Alcohol Use Disorder is a chronic, relapsing condition that can be successfully treated and sustained in remission rather than cured outright. Evidence-based treatment combines psychosocial therapies (CBT, motivational interviewing, contingency management) with FDA-approved medications (naltrexone, acamprosate, disulfiram). Roughly one-third of individuals achieve full remission within one year of treatment, and recurrence risk decreases the longer abstinence is maintained.

F10.20ICD-10-CMAlcohol Use Disorder, Uncomplicated

Official ICD-10-CM descriptor: Alcohol dependence, uncomplicated · Category header, not billable: use a more specific code

Problematic pattern of alcohol use meeting DSM-5-TR Alcohol Use Disorder criteria without current intoxication, withdrawal, or specific alcohol-induced complications.

Recommended screener

Validated screener
Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)
View scale

DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria summary

Alcohol Use Disorder requires a problematic pattern of alcohol use leading to clinically significant impairment, with at least 2 of 11 criteria within a 12-month period:

Alcohol taken in larger amounts or longer than intended.
Persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down.
Significant time spent obtaining, using, or recovering from alcohol.
Craving or strong desire to use alcohol.
Recurrent use causing failure to fulfill major role obligations.
Continued use despite recurrent social/interpersonal problems.
Important social, occupational, or recreational activities given up.
Recurrent use in physically hazardous situations.
Continued use despite knowledge of physical/psychological problems.
Tolerance (need for more alcohol or diminished effect).
Withdrawal (symptoms or alcohol used to relieve/avoid them).

Severity: Mild (2–3 criteria), Moderate (4–5 criteria), Severe (6+ criteria). The fourth-character codes specify state: F10.10 mild, F10.20 moderate-severe uncomplicated, F10.21 in remission, F10.22 with intoxication, F10.23 with withdrawal, F10.24 with mood disorder, etc.

Source: American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR), p. 553–562.

Differential diagnosis

F10.10 Alcohol Use Disorder, Mild, meeting 2–3 criteria; severity downstream affects ICD code selection.
F10.21 Alcohol Use Disorder, In Remission, none of the criteria except craving have been met for ≥3 months.
F10.23 Alcohol Withdrawal, autonomic hyperactivity, tremor, insomnia, nausea, transient hallucinations, anxiety, seizures within hours-to-days of cessation.
F10.24 Alcohol-Induced Mood/Anxiety/Psychotic Disorders, symptoms develop during or shortly after intoxication or withdrawal.
Other Substance Use Disorders, particularly co-occurring sedative-hypnotic, opioid, or stimulant use; coded separately.
Major Depressive Disorder (F33, F32), high comorbidity; depression sometimes resolves after sustained abstinence, sometimes requires concurrent treatment.

Common comorbidities

AUD has very high lifetime comorbidity with other psychiatric conditions. Common co-occurring conditions: Major Depressive Disorder (F33, F32), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (F41.1), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (F43.10), Bipolar I/II (F31.x), other Substance Use Disorders, and chronic pain conditions. Co-administer the AUDIT alongside PHQ-9, GAD-7, and PCL-5 in primary care and behavioural health workflows.

Sources

American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR), F10.20, p. 553–562.
Babor, T. F., Higgins-Biddle, J. C., Saunders, J. B., & Monteiro, M. G. (2001). AUDIT: The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, Guidelines for Use in Primary Care, World Health Organization.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ICD-10-CM Official Coding Guidelines.

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Frequently asked questions

What is ICD-10 code F10.20?
F10.20 is the ICD-10-CM code for Alcohol Use Disorder, Uncomplicated, used when DSM-5-TR criteria for AUD are met without active intoxication, withdrawal, or specific alcohol-induced complications. It is the most commonly used baseline AUD code.
What are the diagnostic criteria for F10.20?
DSM-5-TR Alcohol Use Disorder requires a problematic pattern of alcohol use leading to clinically significant impairment, with at least 2 of 11 criteria within a 12-month period: drinking more than intended, unsuccessful attempts to cut down, time spent obtaining/using/recovering, craving, role failure, social/interpersonal problems, giving up activities, hazardous use, continued use despite physical/psychological problems, tolerance, withdrawal. Severity: 2–3 mild, 4–5 moderate, 6+ severe.
What scale is used to screen for F10.20?
The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) is the World Health Organization-recommended 10-item screener with 92% sensitivity and 94% specificity for hazardous drinking at a cutoff of 8 (World Health Organization, 2001). Scores 8–15 indicate hazardous use, 16–19 harmful use, and 20+ likely alcohol dependence requiring full clinical evaluation.
What's the difference between F10.20 and the older alcoholism codes?
DSM-5-TR collapsed the previous separate codes for 'alcohol abuse' (F10.1) and 'alcohol dependence' (F10.2x) into a single Alcohol Use Disorder code with severity specifiers. F10.20 is uncomplicated AUD; F10.21 is in remission; F10.22 with intoxication; F10.23 with withdrawal; F10.24 with mood disorder; etc.
Is F10.20 the same as 'etoh use disorder'?
Yes. ETOH (ethanol/ethyl alcohol) is the abbreviation commonly used in clinical and emergency department documentation to refer to alcohol. ETOH Use Disorder, alcohol dependence, alcoholism, and AUD all map to the F10.x ICD-10-CM family, with F10.20 being the standard uncomplicated baseline code.
Is F10.20 a billable ICD-10-CM code?
Yes, F10.20 is a billable code in the FY2027 ICD-10-CM code set (effective October 1, 2026). It is the most commonly reimbursed baseline code for moderate-to-severe Alcohol Use Disorder without active intoxication or withdrawal. Other F10.2x extensions (F10.21 in remission, F10.220 with intoxication, F10.230 with withdrawal) are also billable when those specifiers apply.
What are the symptoms of alcohol use disorder?
Alcohol Use Disorder produces a cluster of behavioural, cognitive, and physical symptoms. Core signs include drinking more or longer than intended, repeated unsuccessful attempts to cut down, strong cravings, and continued drinking despite social, work, or health problems. Physical signs include tolerance (needing more alcohol for the same effect) and withdrawal symptoms such as tremor, sweating, anxiety, or insomnia when alcohol is stopped.
How is alcohol use disorder diagnosed?
Alcohol Use Disorder is diagnosed by a clinician using DSM-5-TR criteria, which require at least 2 of 11 problem-pattern criteria within a 12-month period. Diagnosis typically follows a positive AUDIT screen (cutoff 8 or higher), a structured clinical interview, and review of medical and substance-use history. Severity is graded mild (2-3 criteria), moderate (4-5), or severe (6+) based on symptom count.
What causes alcohol use disorder?
Alcohol Use Disorder develops through a combination of genetic, neurobiological, and environmental factors. Family-history studies estimate heritability at 50% to 60%. Environmental contributors include early-onset drinking, trauma exposure, chronic stress, and co-occurring mental health conditions. Repeated heavy drinking causes neuroadaptive changes in dopamine, GABA, and glutamate systems that drive tolerance and craving.
Can alcohol use disorder be cured?
Alcohol Use Disorder is a chronic, relapsing condition that can be successfully treated and sustained in remission rather than cured outright. Evidence-based treatment combines psychosocial therapies (CBT, motivational interviewing, contingency management) with FDA-approved medications (naltrexone, acamprosate, disulfiram). Roughly one-third of individuals achieve full remission within one year of treatment, and recurrence risk decreases the longer abstinence is maintained.